Air show at Finningley recalled on 100th RAF anniversary

Concord lands at RAF Finningley 1986

Published:11:46Monday 16 April 2018

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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Airforce.

To mark this centenary there are a number of events taking place across the country including an RAF 100 parade and flypast in London and a season of air shows including ones at RAF Cosford on June 10 and another at RAF Duxford on September 22 and 23.

Keith Chegwin and Stephen Hamilton at RAF Finningley Airbase 1986

One keen Bells reader, Stephen Hamilton, has sent his own tribute in celebration of the RAF centenary.

He has sent in a few images of his visit to the RAF Base at Finningley now known to many as Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport. He remembers seeing TV celebrity and DJ, Keith Chegwin at the air base in 1986. He remembers hi at the Perry stand.

He also remembered seeing iconic air passenger aeroplane Concord coming into land as a special treat for air flight fans. As can be seen here there were also mementoes collected from the time including stickers and picture postcards from that day.

Another iconic aircraft from the day was a Avro Vulcan Bombers fly past over Conisbrough Castle. He described it as an icon of Cold War Britain and said the Vulcan was a strategic bomber which carried Britain’s first nuclear weapon.

RAF Finningley - sticker from my visit in 1986

Keith Chegwin at the Perry's stand 1986 Finningley

Picture postcard from the RAF Finningley Airbase 1986

One of RAF Finningley's official photo's of its Avro Vulcan Bombers fly past over Conisbrough Castle

317 Squadron RAF Finningley Annual Camp

Former Conisbrough schoolboy, Kevin Pratt, at Finningley airbase

WRAF girls Margaret Drabble (left) and Rita Smith were the first women to fly in a Vulcan Bomber on June 27, 1966 , RAF Finningley